A Captive of Wing and Feather A Retelling of Swan Lake - Melanie Cellier Page 0,79

troublesome grin.

“What do you mean?” I asked warily, concerned that this time I was to be stuffed in the back of a wagon in a ballgown.

She lifted something from the bed and held it out toward me.

“A mask?” I examined the complicated concoction of green feathers and ribbon. “Won’t that be a little suspicious?”

“Not in the least,” she said. “I’ve spent the last two days sowing the seeds around town, and I’ve convinced everyone it’s a masked ball. You should see some of the costumes the townsfolk have managed to cobble together.”

“Audrey!” I gasped.

“What?” She shrugged. “It’s genius. No one will know who we are, least of all Lord Leander.”

“I don’t know…” I said.

“Just take a look at the dress I got for you, at least,” she pleaded.

Reluctantly I nodded, her enthusiasm making me nervous for my willpower. It had been a long time since I had been given the opportunity to wear a beautiful dress, and if she was that certain of the gown, then it must be—

I gasped. The dress she held up was the softest of creams, feathering lace creating a bodice that flowed into soft, full layers of tulle. It was a dress for the height of summer—or a crowded ballroom—but it was still spring, and the nights were cool. I wouldn’t be cold, however, since it came with an elegant, full-length wrap that completed the ensemble with feathers and the faint suggestion of…

“Wings,” I gasped. “It looks like swans’ wings. Wherever did you get such a thing?”

“The seamstress’s daughter-in-law keeps swans.” She gave me a satisfied smile. “And as soon as I saw it, I knew you had to have it. And look at this.”

She held out a second mask, this one made from a cream material and covered in swans’ feathers which swept elegantly up from above the right eyehole.

“You have to wear it,” she assured me gravely. “You just have to.”

“Fine,” I said, and then tried to tell myself I had been convinced by her initial arguments and not the gown. Because she was right. If we could find and destroy the remaining object tonight, we might save a lot of bloodshed.

“I have this for you, too,” she said, holding out a small cream bag. “A few essentials for the night, such as needle and thread.”

I laughed. “Anyone would think we were young ladies preparing for a ball.”

“Aren’t we?” She grinned and slipped over to the door. “I have a dress to match that second mask that I need to put on. And I think we should arrive separately, to make us harder to recognize. There’s a constant stream of carts and wagons heading that direction, so just hail the first one with space and hop on board. I’ll meet you to the left of the main Keep doors.”

She was gone before I could protest or ask questions, so I turned my attention to the dress. It fit beautifully, soft against my skin. Impossibly, I began to feel an echo of the townsfolk’s excitement for the event. It had been a long time since I wore something so beautiful.

I pulled my hair up myself, keeping the style simple and letting the natural waves show. All too soon, I was ready, but as I moved toward the entryway, a memory returned to me. I had promised Vilma that I would visit her in my dress. And it turned out that here I was, in a beautiful gown, on my way to the dance, after all.

I changed course and headed for the far wing. The sitting room used by the elderly residents appeared deserted at first, until my eyes picked out a small woman in a large chair.

“Oh, Lady,” Vilma sighed. “You look even more beautiful than I imagined.”

I blushed. “It’s an incredible dress.”

“And an equally incredible girl,” she assured me, coming over to admire me more closely. She glanced up into my eyes. “It’s nice to hear your voice again.”

The smile I gave her trembled. She had asked no questions when I stopped speaking, and she asked no questions now. All of the residents of the haven had treated me with remarkable forbearance, and I had repaid them by withholding my trust.

“You’ve been married for so many years,” I blurted out. “And Gregor has cared for you all that time—and you for him. How did you know at the beginning that you could trust each other?”

Vilma blinked. “That’s a big question.” She glanced around her. “Here, come, sit down.” She led me over to